Photo of slain Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani, popularly known as Sniper. Photo/FB
By Daisy Okiring
Slain Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani, popularly known as Sniper, has finally been laid to rest 19 months after his death. His burial on Thursday, August 21, at Kabuitu village in Igembe East, Meru County, marked the end of a long wait by his family, who had vowed not to bury him until justice was served.
The sombre ceremony brought together relatives, friends, and leaders who used the moment to urge the government to fast-track investigations and deliver justice in a case that has dragged on since December 2023.
Justice still pending in court
Sniper’s body had remained at Maua Methodist Hospital mortuary for over a year and a half as his family pressed for accountability. His murder case is still ongoing at the Kiambu Law Courts, where five suspects are standing trial.
The blogger went missing on December 2, 2023, after being lured to Meru town. His body was later found along the banks of the Mutonga River in Tharaka Nithi County, sparking outrage and condemnation across the country.
Relatives say burying him without progress in court would have dishonoured his memory and the fight for justice.
Autopsy confirmed torture before death
A post-mortem examination conducted by government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor revealed that Sniper had been tortured before he died. His body bore strangulation marks, fractured ribs, and other injuries consistent with suffocation.
Dr. Oduor described the findings as evidence of a violent death, pointing to deliberate and calculated actions by his killers. These revelations deepened public anger and added pressure on the state to prosecute those behind the crime.
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Pattern of killings and disappearances
Sniper’s murder is part of a worrying trend of attacks on outspoken Kenyans. In 2016, businessman Jacob Juma, a vocal government critic, was shot dead in Nairobi, a case that remains unresolved. Similarly, blogger and journalist Bogonko Bosire went missing in 2013 and has never been found.
Kenya has also witnessed a series of abductions targeting activists and whistleblowers. In 2021, two brothers—Benson Njiru and Emmanuel Mutura—were killed after being arrested by police in Embu, sparking nationwide protests. More recently, in 2022, Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was shot dead by police in Kajiado in what was initially described as a case of mistaken identity, drawing international outrage.
Human rights groups argue that delayed investigations and a lack of convictions in such cases fuel a culture of impunity, leaving families in prolonged pain.
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Family and public demand justice
At Sniper’s funeral, mourners stressed that his death should not be in vain. Speakers reminded the government that the right to free expression is enshrined in the Constitution and must be protected.
Civil society groups echoed the call, warning that failure to resolve cases like Sniper’s risks silencing critical voices online and offline. His family vowed to keep attending court sessions until justice is delivered.
As the coffin was lowered into the grave, the message from Kabuitu village was clear: closure for Sniper’s family will only come when the killers are held accountable.
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